From Our Correspondent
TURA: Condemning the brutal murder of Neil Warjiri and Sarai Singh Thabah during the recent attack on Williamnagar jail, the Garo Students’ Union (GSU) has appealed to the Khasi community to maintain the brotherly bonds that has been built over the years between the communities residing in the State.
GSU urged the Khasi community not to give up on the relationship they share as citizens of Meghalaya and said that they should not give in to the anarchists whose actions far outweigh their narrow minded acts which tantamount to cowardice, betrayal and treachery to their own people.
GSU president, Tegnsak G Momin, said that if the ideology of the militants is to safeguard the Garo people they must consider the far reaching effects that their actions might have on Garos in other parts of the North East.
“Every militant outfit of the State be they GNLA or ANVC-B should understand that they belong to the Garo community and that their actions could have repercussions on their own people,” said the GSU president and added that the Garos will truly become a minority in the land of the indigenous tribes if the militants fail to understand this simple reasoning.
Momin asserted that the Garos face the same problems affecting most of the indigenous people of the North East and no single community will be successful in defending itself against these invaders unless they unite against a common foe.
“The GNLA, ANVC-B, HNLC and others will never succeed in defending their own people from issues of national importance if their actions are only successful in fostering divisions among the major tribes of the State” he stated.
Appealing to all militant groups to stop indiscriminate killings, the GSU emphasized the importance of not wasting resources by fighting amongst the tribes of the State and said that patriotism without considering the consequences to its own people will only amount to betrayal of their people.
Stressing on the Union’s close ties with other tribes of the State, Momin said the GSU has been working closely with FKJGP, KSU, JSU, CSWO and HYNF and others to tackle issues commonly faced by the indigenous people of Meghalaya like the demand for ILP, mechanisms to deport Bangladeshis, dubious electoral entries etc.
“However this horrifying act of murder has put a big breach on the trust and the symbiotic support and unity of the Garos, Khasis and the Jaintias. The guilty should be punished and penalized in the strictest manner possible,” the GSU president said.
Extending their condolences to the families of the Williamnagar jail attack victims, the GSU president said that they can never truly claim to understand the families’ loss.
UCPF, TGSCF, GGU condemn attack, call
for peace and unity
Appealing to the people of Garo Hills in particular and Meghalaya as a whole to maintain peace and harmony the United Christian Peace Forum (UCPF) has condemned the attack on Williamnagar District Jail by militants during which Assistant Jailor Neil Warjri and Warder Sarai Singh Thabah were killed.
The UCPF asked the government to constitute an enquiry committee for proper investigation and book the culprits. The Forum has also demanded the payment of ex-gratia to the bereaved families at the earliest.
Appealing to militants to stop killing innocent people the UCPF have called upon all citizens, NGOs, social activists and student bodies to work together towards peace and development in the region.
Meanwhile, the Tura Garo Senior Citizens’ Forum (TGSCF) and the Garo Graduate Union (GGU) have also expressed shock and concern over the heinous attack.
Expressing their heartfelt grief and sorrow on the untimely demise of the two jail staff during the attack, the TGSCF and the GGU called upon every citizen to abstain from violence and maintain peace and unity in the State.